Fancy a mille...🤔

[Dodgy69]

I've got a crf250L in the garage doing absolutely nothing, about 1100 miles on the clock MY 19. I want to replace it with a mllle.

I first fancied aTuono, but am now leaning towards the mille. What I need to know is, best years. Budget about 4k max. Maybe 03/04 . Seen a few going for as little as 2.5k. I want twin pipes, looks ace. Sound's ace.

I rode one a few years back and was very comfortable, similar riding position as 98 blade i had at the time.

Your thoughts and opinions of said bike very welcome.

[weeksy]

Later bikes have better electrics.

Ask/research 'brown connector ' which is basically to the charging system.

Also Google Sprag Clutch

However, don't google either too much, or you'd never buy one

They're great bikes, like really great. But there will be times it won't start

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

A mate raced one in 2000 in the Mille cup and then in Power Bike after that, apparently of the early ones the 2000 onwards ones with matt black nose cone are faster than the earlier ones.

He had no problems with it reliability wise, it was ridden very hard, and he used it on the road as well as racing it. The poor thing died when he crashed it into Brands pit wall hard enough to break the frame and for him to get a helicopter ride to hospital.

[Dodgy69]

I know about their weaknesses, but the garage is missing some character. The MT is brilliant and staying but lacks the character of the V twin.

[KungFooBob]

They changed in 2004 iirc.

The Gen 1 had a riding position similar to a 98 Blade, the Gen 2, no chance. They were tiny and crippling.

The one to have IMHO is a Gen 1 RSV-R, with the Ohlins and the OZ wheels.

The Gen 2's were all called R's. The special one was the 'Factory'. The Gen 2's had problems with the dash resetting the mileage when the battery was disconnected, so DO NOT believe the Odo, check the MOT history and buy on condition.

[singlesman]

As above, really like them, or more specifically, the v60 rotax motors in them. Deceptively quick bikes on certain circuits.
Got a SOT 3rd place with North Gloucester on a bog standard Falco and a friend won the Sound of Thunder championship on a Mille, albeit with a Frank Wrathall motor in it.
The well publicised electrical gremlins are easily sorted and the only other issues we had with them was clutch slip. Again, fairly easily sorted.
Rode a standard Mille back to back with a SP1 and couldn’t wait to give the Honda back!

[singlesman]

Just a thought, if you were thinking of using one as a track bike, not sure how you’d fair with noise testing with anything remotely resembling a race pipe.

[KungFooBob]

Anyway, you've gone all about this the wrong way.

Rather than asking about RSV's, you should have asked about bikes with character for £4k and mentioned the RSV in the first post.

Then when it gets to 20 pages of suggestions, just buy an Aprilia anyway. It's RTTL rules!

[dern]

I can’t offer any advice other than you should absolutely get one. I like the later ones best but all are cool.

[Bigjawa]

I rode MooCow off the old place's Factory R and was totally blown away. A mate had had a few and rates them very highly, another mate had a Tuono R and it was a right quick aul thing.

[2xtwins]

Love the Mille.

I can't speak for the Gen 2 bikes but have a 2001 Mille R which has been SORN'd for the past four years or so.

As you know, Paul, I've more bikes than I know what to do with if I'm being honest so the old girl has been tucked in the back of my garage for a while now.

Don't believe all you read about unreliability - mine never let me down and saw plenty of track action over the years, as evidenced by the bodywork .

Mine has the single exhaust, currently the ti race can, and only just managed to pass noise testing on 105db days. It would pass ok with the standard can on quiet days and @Tricky has ridden mine in anger on track so may be along to give his views.

Comfort-wise I would say that it's a lot less comfortable than the 954 Blade that I had and also more difficult to ride quickly on track.

Lovely motors, good brakes and terrific handling with the Ohlins but a very different proposition to a Jap in-line four.

I keep saying that I'll re-commission mine over the winter but, in my world, winter never comes .

Never had any problems with the rear brake caliper though, if that's a deal breaker..........

Kev

[Dodgy69]

Thanks gents..the one i rode was a 51 plate single pipe with 2 outlets i think. My neighbours. Ran well, he had zero probs in his ownership 6/7 year's. Very comfy and sounded ace.

I much prefer the twin pipes. No plan's for track, just a fun ride bike.

[KungFooBob]

Cos Weeksy is on holibobs, I'll step in...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195262327002

[v8-powered]

Gen 2 is a far nicer bike, go for Factory spec if you can for extra bling.
I've owned both a Gen 1 and Gen 2 - the Gen 2 Factory is one of the few bikes I've ever regretted selling

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

They changed in 2004 iirc.

The Gen 1 had a riding position similar to a 98 Blade, the Gen 2, no chance. They were tiny and crippling.

The one to have IMHO is a Gen 1 RSV-R, with the Ohlins and the OZ wheels.

The Gen 2's were all called R's. The special one was the 'Factory'. The Gen 2's had problems with the dash resetting the mileage when the battery was disconnected, so DO NOT believe the Odo, check the MOT history and buy on condition.

My mate's one must have been an RSV-R as it has Online and Oz wheels, it only cost £5K brand new in 2000 (because he got it for the same price the dealer paid for it)

[Bigyin]

Never ridden the Mille but ridden a few Tuono's .......superb fun, bit soft on the front end but encourages you to push on with that engine. The early Mille when crashed used to weaken on the frame near the headstock from what i remember from the Mille cup races as they were big and heavy to pick up and a few folded in half when we tried to push them into the recovery vans due to cracks near the headstock

[Beancounter]

However, don't google either too much, or you'd never buy one

m00c0w had a 2004 Factory R. It was called the Crack Whore because it was so flaky. Eventually set fire to itself. But... that engine. Even in my de-tuned Caponord it's superb.

[Skub]

Lovely looking bikes,but my nerves couldn't stand the gremlins. A bit like KTM ownership,I'd want a warranty.

[Count Steer]

However, don't google either too much, or you'd never buy one

m00c0w had a 2004 Factory R. It was called the Crack Whore because it was so flaky. Eventually set fire to itself. But... that engine. Even in my de-tuned Caponord it's superb.

With a rather special plate on IIRC. It survived at least one Flash Tour without incident.

[Beancounter]

However, don't google either too much, or you'd never buy one

m00c0w had a 2004 Factory R. It was called the Crack Whore because it was so flaky. Eventually set fire to itself. But... that engine. Even in my de-tuned Caponord it's superb.

With a rather special plate on IIRC. It survived at least one Flash Tour without incident.

Aye, it had a personalised plate. I think you're right, I was on two Flash Tours with him, one without incident, the other one he got a massive puncture on day two requiring a new tyre. There were also a few crashes (not the RSV-R) on that tour.